Eternal Night

Chapter 856 Inviting colleagues

"...So you guys almost didn't make it back this time?"

While enjoying the feast, Wu Pifu asked curiously.

This was a feast cooked for him by Huang Rong, so the taste was naturally excellent. Moreover, Huang Rong was serving him food and pouring wine, with Hongxiu by his side. It was a wonderful feeling.

In front of him, Xu Shilan and Amadei were also eating, chatting with him about their journey in the dream world.

“…It was a cyberpunk dream world, level 0.7, but close to level 0.6. The entire world consisted of only one megacity, and outside the city were scattered camps of wanderers or gathering places for abandoned people, defectors, and outlaws. This was the only light outside the city, and beyond that, there was only darkness,” Xu Shilan said.

Wu Pifu didn't understand at first, but Amadeus explained, "Literal darkness, a world without the sun."

"Huh?" Wu Pifu looked completely bewildered. "No sun? That civilization from that world still exists?"

Taking the solar system as an example, if the sun disappeared, not to mention issues of gravity and planetary collisions, the temperature alone would be enough to completely wipe out civilizations that have not yet reached the point of colonizing a star system. Even if a civilization has reached the point of colonizing a star system, it would be absolutely impossible to develop in the long run, and even maintaining it would be extremely difficult, because the energy problem would only lead to the depletion of its resources.

Xu Shilan nodded and said, "I know what you want to say. The technology of this dream world is not as advanced as that of our Gaia humans. We haven't reached the point of colonizing star systems. In fact, the entire world only has one city. There is no outer space or spaceships. But this world is very special. The sun is gone, but the temperature has not dropped to an unbearable level. It is about zero to ten degrees Celsius on average. It is colder in the darkness outside Huangye, but it is still mostly around minus twenty degrees Celsius."

Amade added, "It's related to light. The more light there is in that world, the warmer it is, and the less light there is, the colder it is. There are monsters in the darkness, the kind that combine flesh and machine, some like bio-beasts, but with many differences. In short, that's the kind of world it is."

Wu Pifu nodded: "So, how come you almost didn't make it back?"

Speaking of this, Xu Shilan, Amadeus, and Huang Rong all wore expressions of lingering fear.

As a man and a veteran of World War III, Amadeus was much better and quickly regained his composure. He picked up a beer and took a big gulp, saying, "About three months ago, that world suddenly underwent very strange changes. In short, all sorts of bizarre things increased. At first, we didn't raise our guard and just continued doing business..."

"Wait a moment."

Wu Pifu interrupted again, "Doing business?"

"correct."

Xu Shilan and Amadeus looked at Wu Pifu with great confusion.

"...That's all, let's continue. By the way, what kind of business do you do? Arms or mercenaries?" Wu Pifu couldn't help but ask curiously.

"What are you thinking about?" Xu Shilan laughed and scolded, "Exchanging daily necessities for energy blocks."

As she spoke, Xu Shilan took out a palm-sized crystal block from her personal space and said, "It's a technology unique to that world, effective only in that world. It can convert geothermal energy into energy blocks. This is about the size of a block, equivalent to 100 million kilowatt-hours of electricity. Although this energy block cannot be manufactured or recharged in the outside world, it can remain stable and still be used. The mainframe buys one block for 500 points. We will import living supplies from the Land of Redemption and take them to that world to exchange for energy blocks."

"Five hundred points per piece?"

Wu Pifu was surprised instead.

This price is not cheap at all. As long as that world can mass-produce energy cubes, it is possible to earn hundreds of millions or even billions from the mainframe. Most importantly, in the cyberpunk worldview, it is also an industrialized society.

"No, it's not as simple as you think."

Xu Shilan smiled bitterly and said, "That world is a very chaotic society. The city is divided among seven or eight different forces, and there are also resistance armies, guerrilla forces, terrorists, cyber psychopaths, and other chaotic or violent forces intertwined within it. Not to mention those monsters that are a mixture of flesh and metal that appear from time to time. Oh, and besides these, there are also some inexplicable strange events and strange existences in that world. In short, it is simply unrealistic to try to acquire energy blocks on a large scale in that world. From beginning to end, we even joined forces with two other Night Watch teams to barely take over two blocks and maintain good relations with various forces in the city. By the time of the upheaval three months ago, we had only acquired a total of more than 300,000 energy blocks. After accounting for costs, hiring other Night Watch members, etc., we only earned a little over 70 million points."

Amadeus said somewhat indignantly, "We invested a lot and it took a long time in the early stages. We had actually started to reap the rewards. If it weren't for the dramatic changes, we would have been making a lot of money... What a pity, and we also owe people a favor."

"A favor?" Wu Pifu asked curiously, "Were you rescued by the Night Watch team?"

Both of them shook their heads simultaneously, their faces bearing strange expressions. At this moment, Huang Rong poured wine for Wu Pifu and said, "He was rescued by the chairman of the First Company with his men." "Huh?"

Wu Pifu found it hard to believe that the chairman, who valued his life so much, would actually rescue his team members.
Xu Shilan said with a strange expression, "Actually, it was just a coincidence. The whole city suddenly lost power. During the three-month upheaval, all sorts of strange things started to increase. During the big blackout, we had the idea of ​​leaving that dream world. But who knew that the mainframe would tell us that there were three hours left before we returned? This was unprecedented. So we could only stay in our sheltered building. Then the situation got worse and worse, and all sorts of strange things increased. Our external defenses were breached. Just as we were about to start fighting, the chairman of the First Company appeared. He actually drove away those monsters. Then, I don't know what he did, but the mainframe suddenly told us that we could leave the dream world. When we left, the chairman of the First Company asked us to give you our regards on his behalf and to the Cyberpunk Buddha."

"Cyberpunk Buddha..."

Wu Pifu suddenly thought of the upheaval three months ago that the Eternal Mother had mentioned. She had only been able to reappear because of the opportunity brought about by that upheaval. Since the Eternal Mother could recover part of her body from the Daoist state, it was not impossible for other sources to do the same. For example, this cyberpunk Buddha... no, does such a Buddha really exist?
"...Well, I guess it's a favor, I suppose."

Wu Pifu muttered something, then said to Xu Shilan, "Alright, next time you see the chairman of First Company, have him pass on a message to Cyberpunk Buddha: 'We welcome friends with good wine, and we have shotguns for enemies. It's up to them to choose...' So, have you made your decision?"

Wu Pifu has already informed the three of what is to come.

The next year will be the last window of opportunity for human development. After that, the ancient civilization of the Heavenly Court, at the level of Zero Point One, will attack at any time, and it is very likely that it will directly descend upon the Land of Redemption or even the Gaia spaceship.

"During this year, Chu Minghao, Liang Min, and I must undergo a transformation, at least to have a truly complete transformed body. Once the Eternal Mother takes charge of the Land of Redemption, I will set off immediately. My primary goal is to obtain the extraordinary path of the Soul-Slaying Blade for the Death."

Wu Pifu looked at the three of them and said directly, "The extraordinary paths that can fit my current state, such as the Nen ability I've learned, are probably extremely precious extraordinary paths. There may be great dangers involved, but dangers may also be accompanied by opportunities. I encountered such an opportunity in the last dream world, but it's a pity that you didn't come along. Otherwise, you might have been able to learn a second or even a third extraordinary path. It's a real shame now. So, do you want to join me in my next action?"

Amadeus replied without hesitation, “That’s a good idea. To be honest, being with my brother is much better than doing business.”

Xu Shilan glanced at Amadeus, then smiled gently at Wu Pifu and said, "Judging from your tone now... you seem very confident in protecting us, right?"

"of course."

Wu Pifu revealed his Pokémon System Extraordinary Path and then described it in detail: "...That's about it. Although I've only used it on three small animals and the Golden Tree Bonsai so far, I think it should also be applicable to you. At most, I'll become your Pokémon, right? And even if you can't use this extraordinary path, I'm confident I can protect you."

Wu Pifu spoke with great confidence.

Having fought to the death to obtain the space, he now truly feels as if he can freely travel to a dream world.

“Alright.” Xu Shilan said with a smile, “Then I’ll go with you. If I can improve my strength in a year, at least I won’t be a hindrance when the Heavenly Court attacks.”

Huang Rong was overjoyed.

After she became a registered Gaia human, she was actually bound to Xu Shilan, so it was impossible for her to move freely, at least for a short period of time. Huang Rong herself knew this, but she still wanted to be with her lover. At this time, Xu Shilan agreed, so she was able to go with him.

Huang Rong hummed a little tune with a grin and happily served food to Wu Pifu. Even Xu Shilan and Amadei got a few bites of food and a few cups of wine. Huang Rong's silly behavior made Xu Shilan and Amadei laugh heartily, making Huang Rong's face turn red with laughter.

Seeing this scene, Wu Pifu felt a mixture of secret joy and melancholy.

If only... there were no Heavenly Court...

He will probably never forget this scene for the rest of his life.

And this... is precisely the treasure he wants to protect.

All that is beautiful must be defended, either with the blood of the enemy or with one's own tears...

Therefore, he must continue to grow stronger and advance, from the first tier to the second tier, and then to the third tier...

No matter who the enemy was, he slaughtered them all!

(End of this chapter)